Umbrella



Aug. 18, 1936. A, H SIERS 2,051,750

UMBRELLA Filed April 4, 1936 INVENTOR. y

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Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES UMBRELLA John A. 1.1. Siers, Jersey City, N. J.

Application. April 4,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to umbrellas and has for its general object and purpose to provide certain improvements in an umbrella of the type disclosed in my pending application for patent, Se-

rial No. 752,197, led November 9, 1934.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive elastic cover for the collapsible umbrella frame, having means acting to control the stretch of the elastic material between adjacent radially diverging ribs as said ribs are radially distended to thereby limit the concave curvature of the ledge of the cover between the outer ends of the ribs.

In one embodiment of the invention, I accomplish the above purpose by incorporating in the outer edge of the cover as the latter is produced by the spraying of rubber latex upon a suitable form, a continuous reinforcing cord of silk or other relatively inelastic material. Preferably, at the same time, there is also incorporated in the cover material at spaced points, devices for detachably securing said cover to the outer ends of the movable rib sections. The length ofthe reinforcing cord extending between these attaching devices is slightly greater than the linear distance between the ends of said rib sections when the latter are distended, which limits and determines the inward curvature of the cover edge between the adjacent ribs.

It is also another object of the invention to provide a removable elastic cover for the collapsble umbrella frame with simple and easily manipulated attaching means therefor including inelastic parts incorporated in the cover sheet and cooperating with said reinforcing cord whereby the elastic sheet material will be relieved of excessive strain and the possibility of its separation or disconnection from said attaching devices.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved umbrella and in the form construction and relative arrangement of its several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of my present invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section showing an umbrella provided with the present invention, openand ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

CII

1936, Serial No. 72,699

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fi 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, the ou er end of one of the frame ribs being shown in sectn:

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the cover attaching devices.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View illustrating one method of attaching a tie strap or ribbon to the elastic umbrella cover.

Referring in detail to the drawing, as in my pending application above referred to, the umbrella includes a staff consisting of the telescoping tubular sections 5 and 6, a runner 25 and a cap or sleeve I6 connected to the upper end. of 15 the staff section 5.

`The collapsible frame includes inner and outer telescoping rib sections |8 and 20 respectively, stretchers 2| and links 3|, the stretchers 2| being pivotally connected with the rib sections 20 and runner 25, while links 3| are pivotally connected with said stretchers and the sleeve I6 and the inner ends of ribs I8 are pivotally connected to the outer end of said sleeve. For a further detailed description of this umbrella staff and the collapsible frame, reference may be had to my pending application.

Theumbrella cover, generally indicated at 45 preferably consists of a single sheet of elastic rubber of predetermined thickness. This cover sheet is formed by the well-known method of spraying rubber latex upon a suitable form. Coloring matter may be mixed with the latex so as to produce a cover sheet of any desired predetermined color shade. o

At its center, the cover 45 is provided with an opening to receive the pin or stud 36 which is removably threaded in the outer end of the sleeve I6 and has a head engaging upon the thin metal washer 35, whereby the central part of the cover sheet is tightly clamped against the end of said sleeve- In the spraying of the rubber latex to form the cover sheet 45, there is rst suitably arranged upon the form a substantially continuous reinforcing cord 46 of silk or other relatively inelastic material and also the cover attaching devices, each of which includes a folded inelastic fabric strip 4'I and the attaching element 48. This fabric strip is arranged with one end thereof abutting against the inner side of the reinforcing cord 46 as clearly seen in Figure 4 of the drawing. When the rubber latex is sprayed upon the form, said reinforcing cord 46 and the fabric strip 41 will thus 4be vulcanized within the cover sheet and become in eect integral parts thereof. The radially disposed attaching elements S8 project beyond the edge of the coversheet. Each of these elements preferably consists of a length of wire bent to provide spaced parallel portions and an intermediate connecting portion with which the folded fabric strip 4l is enlarged. The extremities of this wire are angularly bent inwardly toward each other in convergent relation as shown at 49.

The radially extensible rib sections 20 are of channel shape and the opposite side walls thereof at their outer ends are provided with suitable openings indicated at 50 to receive the convergent ends 49 of the attaching elements 48. The opposite side portions of these attaching elements may be readily expanded to permit the insertion of their ends 49 through the openings 50. 'I'hus the outer edge of the cover at spaced points may be easily and quickly attached to the respective rib sections 20.

To the cover 45 between adjacent frame ribs and near the outer edge of the cover, a. tie strap or ribbon 5I is attached. While various means might be used for attaching this ribbon to the cover sheet, in Figure 6 I have shown said cover sheet provided with a hard rubber grommet 52 having a metal stud 53. This stud at one of its ends is formed with a suitable head with which the male element 54 of a conventional snap fastener attached to one' end of the ribbon 5| is permanently engaged. The other end of this strap o1' ribbon 5l carries the female fastener element 55. Thus after the umbrella has been closed, the folds of the cover 45 may be tightly held or bound in superimposed relation by encircling the same with the tie strap or ribbon 5| and engaging the fastener element 55 with the element 54 in the usual manner.

From the above description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and several advantages of my present invention will be clearly understood. It was found in practice, that in the use of an elastic cover formed from rubber latex, when the umbrella was opened and the rib sections 20 distended, the radial stretch of the cover material along diverging lines resulted in a deep inward curvature of the edge of the cover sheet, extending between said ribs. This disadvantageous effect has been overcome by means of the inelastic reinforcing cord 46 vulcanized in the outer edge of the cover sheet. 'I'he length of the sections of this cord extending between the adjacent ribs being definitely limited, causes a distributed radial stretch of the elastic material between the frame ribs as the latter are distended, and thus definitely limits the inward curvature of the edge r portions of the cover between the adjacent ribs, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. This renforcing cord 46, is also quite effective in obviating radial splitting of the elastic rubber cover sheet and protects the same against damage or injury by accidental contact of the edge of the cover sheet against stationary objects. Further it is to be noted that this reinforcing cord having abutting contact with the outer ends of the fabric strips 41 incorporated in the cover sheet relieves said elastic material of excessive strains which might otherwise be transmitted thereto from the attaching elements 48 as the elastic cover sheet is expanded.

I have shown the cover sheet 45 as being of uniform thickness throughout. However, in some cases it might be advisable to slightly increase aoeryaso the thickness of this sheet material towards it center where it is attached to the umbrella stai by the pin 36.

From the above description, it will be seen tha I have provided an elastic umbrella cover and at taching elements therefor which is absolutel; waterproof and will readily expand and contrac in the opening and closing of the collapsible u'm brella frame. Such a cover will also. be less ex pensive than the usual silk covers and be' sub stantially equally resistant to wear and deteriora tion. In the event that the elastic cover shoull be damaged to such an extent as to preclude it further use, it can be readily detached from thl frame by disengaging the attaching elements 41 from the rib sections 20 and removing the centra fastener pin or stud 36. A new elastic cover ma: then be easily applied at considerably less cosl to the user than is incident to the recovering o: umbrellas of the conventional type.

I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention, which, after thorough test, has been founc` to be entirely practical. It will nevertheless b manifest that the essential features of the device as above described may also be exemplified in numerous other alternative mechanical forms Accordingly, I reserve the right to resort to all such legitimate changes in the form, proportions and relative arrangement of the several elements as may fairly be considered within the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In an umbrella having a staff and a collapsible frame, including radially extensible ribs; an elastic cover sheet for said frame fixed at its center to the staff and attached at its outer edge to each of said extensible ribs, means carried by said cover sheet, automatically acting as said sheet is radially stretched along the ribs when the latter are extended, to radially stretch or expand the elastic cover material between adjacent ribs.

2. In an umbrella having a staff and a collapsible frame, including radially extensible ribs; an elastic cover sheet for said frame fixed atits center to the staff and attached at its outer edge to each of said extensible ribs, and inelastic means secured to the perimeter of the cover sheet between adjacent ribs, automatically acting as saidf'sheet is radially stretched along the ribs when the latter are extended, to radially stretch or expand the elastic cover material between adjacent ribs.

3. In an umbrella having a. staff and a. collapsible frame, including radially extensible ribs; an elastic cover sheet for said frame fixed at its center to the staff and attached at its outer edge to each of said extensible ribs, and an inelastic flexible cord, coextensive with the perimeter of the cover sheet and secured thereto, the sections of said cord between adjacent ribs being of greater length than the linear distance between the outer ends of said ribs when the latter are radially' extended, to control the expansion of the cover material between said ribs and the arcuate curva` ture assumed by the perimeter thereof.

4. In an umbrella having a staff and a collapsible frame, including radially extensible ribs; an elastic cover sheet for said frame, an inelastic flexible cord coextensive with the perimeter of the cover sheet and secured thereto, spaced attaching devices projecting from the perimeter of the cover sheet and inelastic elements con` nected with the attaching devices and secured to the cover sheet, said attaching devices and the ribs having coacting means for detachably connecting the cover sheet to said ribs, said inelastic elements and the reinforcing cord coacting with each other to relieve the elastic cover material of excessive tensional strains, and means for detachably connecting said cover sheet at its center to the umbrella. staff.

5. An elastic cover sheet for umbrella frames, said sheet being formed from rubber latex and having an inelastic reinforcing cord vulcanized in the perimeter thereof.

6. An elastic cover sheet for umbrella. frames, said sheet being formed from rubber latex and having an inelastic reinforcing cord vulcanized in the perimeter thereof, and attaching devices for connecting said cover sheet at spaced points to the outer ends of the frame ribs, each of said ment with the reinfc-cing cord to relieve the elastic material of excessive strains at its points of attachment to the ribs, and said reinforcing cord controlling the radial expansion oi the elastic cover sheet between adjacent frame ribs.

7. A cover for umbrella frames comprising an elastic` sheet formed from rubber latex and a circumferentially` continuous inelastic flexible element vulcanized in the perimeter of said cover sheet. v

8. A cover for umbrella frames comprising an elastic sheet formed from rubber latex adapted for attachment at spaced points to the ribs of an umbrella frame, and a circumferentially continuous substantially inelastic flexible element vulcanized in the perimeter of said elastic sheet and having sections of greater length than the linear distance between adjacent points of attachment of said cover to the frame ribs acting to control radial expansion of the elastic cover material; adjacent frame ribs.

JOHN A. H. SIERS. 

